The veteran actor then announced the incorrect winner with his Bonnie and Clyde co-star Faye Dunaway, 76.

It took a cringeworthy two minutes and 23 seconds for the mistake to filter through to the stage, where La La Land producers and stars Emma Stone, 28, Ryan Gosling, 36, and John Legend, 38, were celebrating their “win”.

But behind the scenes there was total chaos.

One of the PWC accountants was said to have “jumped up” and said: “He (Beatty) took the wrong envelope.”

EPA

Warren Beatty holds up the card mistakenly given to him

Elsewhere, a stagehand with her hands on her head blur­ted out: “Oh my God. Moonlight won, Moonlight won.”

It was left to furious La La Land producer Jordan Horow­itz, 36, to announce the gaffe to the stunned A-list audience.

He said: “There’s a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won. This is no joke — I’m afraid they read the wrong thing.”

Presenter Jimmy Kimmel, 49, attempted to lighten the mood on stage, then let Beatty explain it wasn’t his fault.

Getty Images

La La Land producer Jordan Horow­itz announced the gaffe and handed over the award

Hollywood stars react to Oscars Best Picture mistake after La La Land announced instead of Moonlight

The 79-year-old actor told him: “I want to tell you what happen­ed. I opened the envelope and it said Emma Stone, La La Land. That’s why I took such a long look at Faye and you — I wasn’t trying to be funny.”

Ruiz and Cullinan, who ran on stage in the co­mmotion, earlier walked the red carpet carrying briefcases that held envelopes which named the winners.

They were stationed separ­a­te­ly on either side of the stage.

Last week, Cullinan said the Academy had “absolute trust” in PWC “and what we do” due to its “integrity, accura­cy and confidentiality”.

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